CPAP users: Got this email from my online CPAP supplier today.

[tuvor]

This probably means a lot more to my USA DU friends than it does to me. In other words, I don't pretend to understand it very well, but I think I understand it enough that it may be of interest to some of you who need CPAP apparatus.

(Edit to add that the bolding is mine, for better or for worse.)

CPAP SUPPLIES PLUS/DIRECT NEWS BRIEF

We are sending this newsletter for all who are on CPAP therapy. We feel
you should know that once again, as part of the Sleep Alliance, Respironics
and Fisher & Paykel are mandating providers to raise their advertised
prices. This comes after ResMed was the first of the HME manufacturers to
mandate advertised artificially higher prices in 2006.

You will notice some of your favorite products at 50% to 80% higher than
what you have seen in the past. Although this is what will display on our
site, please call, email or fax in your order for the very low competitive
pricing you are use to receiving at CPAP Supplies Plus/Direct. We fully
support our customers and recognize the needs of those who shop the
Internet.

In the past, we had great working relationships with the Sleep
Manufacturers. We are very remorse to see that more manufacturers are
instituting these policies to protect the local HME’s and their large
National Accounts who charge everyone’s insurance at least double of what
the standard price is on the Internet for CPAP equipment or supplies. They
also do not want Medicare/Medicaid and private insurers to see the low
pricing at Internet stores. But given the chance they have taken advantage
of drop ship programs at very deeply discounted pricing to insurance
companies and Doctors for their patients.

We have heard from our customers over and over again through the years
regarding our great pricing and quality customer service. If you believe in
the business model of the Internet which stands for delivering good
products at competitive pricing, please let your voice be heard. Consumers
are suffering at the cost of big corporations, their bottom line and their
special interest groups.

We and the manufacturers would like to hear from our customers if they
feel they get just as good quality customer service on line or better than
their local homecare dealer. Manufacturers’ have sited this as one reason
to bring everyone in line with service and pricing.

Some of our loyal customers have already written to their Congressman and
Senators and to management at the Manufacturers. We ask that you take a few
minutes and make a call or send an email to those listed below. We, here at
CPAP Supplies Plus/Direct, are also doing the same.

Respironics contact number is 724-387-7622 or email [e-mail].

Fisher and Paykel contact number is 800-446-3908.
ResMed contact number is 800-424-0737.

Let your voice be heard even further. Here is a link to your
Representative: www.house.gov.
For the Senate go to:
http://www.cpapnewsletters.com/sendstudio/link.php?M=13621&N=9&L=25&F=T.

Please write Mr. Kerry Weems, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), 200 Independence Avenue SW, Hubert H. Humphrey
Building Room, Washington, DC 20024, who is trying to enforce Competitive
Bidding, a regulation to reduce fraud by your typical Home Medical
Equipment Dealer.

Just thought this might be useful to someone.

[Fenris]

1. Why is that so poorly written?

Very strange for an official email. I can't make heads or tails of it, and I use a CPAP.

[Andrea]

3. I noticed that, too

It almost sounds like the author is not a native English speaker, which may be the case. Still, you would think that they would have someone else write it in that case.

Anyway, once again we see the insanity of the American health care system.

Heck, I don't understand anything about my DME providers.

The one I started out with dropped my insurance. My doctor hooked me up with another one. About once a year they send me a new mask, without me asking. This year they sent new tubing as well. Sometimes they bill me, sometimes they don't. Thank God I have health insurance or I couldn't afford any of it. Since they take pretty good care of me, I'm reluctant to stir up any hornets' nests. Still, I'm sure things could be handled more cheaply.

[papau]

2. I've noticed my co-pay is only a littles less than the internet price for a mask - filters and air

supplies are in the 50% over internet range.

It is a rip-off.

Meanwhile Praxair PX has moved from 60 to 85 in the past year.

[shireen]

4. thanks for the info

my cpap just broke, waiting to hear from my provider about my options ....

[Hekate]

5. My tubing is now made in China, and is defective. I can't get a replacement.

That's the short version of the story, but over the past year I have been very frustrated with the process of getting supplies for the CPAP machine I received 3 years ago. I am, thank God, covered by Blue Cross as far as the cost goes, but service has gone steadily down since the local Sleep Disorders Center decided to stop issuing supplies itself and gave the job to some outfit in Arizona that apparently is following Medicare guidelines for a replacement schedule rather than the original replacement protocol I was prescribed.

Last year when I first had a problem and indicated to the contact person in Arizona that I used to pick up supplies myself, she said something really outrageous that caused my husband to write to the president of the company. She said that they couldn't have people dispensing supplies from the office like that because they "weren't running a charity." My husband told the president that for what we are shelling out to Blue Cross every year (in the neighborhood of 12 grand) there is no "charity" involved.

I thought at the beginning that the replacement schedule was generous and I tend to wash and store the old parts when new ones come, with the exception of filters, which can't be cleaned and reused at all. So I'm actually okay as long as I get filters on schedule. What I find disturbing is that I have no local contact at all anymore, and that things were changed without notice or explanation -- rather like the recent time I received a generic medication in the mail instead of the brand-name my doc had prescribed. In the case of the generic I lived through 3 months of hell from the side-effects.

The defective tube came in January. It smells like baby-powder. It is grainy instead of smooth. The package has no lot number, no country of origin, but it states that it costs "up to" 60% less than previous versions. I have no intention of using the damn thing -- and I can't return it or get a replacement off-schedule, although I have phoned and emailed my concerns. At least I found out that the country of origin is indeed China. Just great -- the country of poisoned plastic children's toys is now providing my durable medical equipment.

When I was first prescribed the CPAP and picked up the supplies locally, I got an invoice that listed the prices for each of the items, even though Blue Cross is currently picking up the cost. I can tell you that for items that are made of plastic and rubber, the prices are beyond outrageous. There is no earthly excuse for that pricing structure.

The health care system in this country is completely screwed up.

Hekate